|
|
Books > Fiction > General & literary fiction > Modern fiction
Obsessed by her encounters with the mysterious green women, and
haunted by the Garonne River, a nameless narrator seeks them out in
La Roele, Paris, Marseille, and Ouagadougou. Each encounter reveals
different aspects of the women; real or imagined, dead or alive,
seductive or suicidal, driving the narrator deeper into her
obsession, in this unsettling exploration of identity, memory and
paranoia. Self Portrait in Green is the multi-prize winning, Marie
NDiaye's brilliant subversion of the memoir. Written in diary
entries, with lyrical prose and dreamlike imagery, we start with
and return to the river, which mirrors the narrative by posing more
questions than it answers.
Earthworld is a thing of the past. Welcome to the future.
After the collapse of life on Earth as it once was known, 600 people are selected for passage on Shipworld, a spacecraft charting a 360-year voyage to a new planet. Their mission will see generation after generation born, living and dying on board – until one day their descendants finally step foot on the 'Super Earth' that might offer the last chance for humankind's survival.
But life aboard Shipworld is far from a waiting game. The spacecraft promises a world of its own, a harmonious system free of class distinctions and wealth accumulation. Yet with each new generation comes daunting challenges to the future of their civilisation – from creeping doubts about the nature of reality to an outbreak of disease that could eradicate their population, from rebels who threaten the unity of the mission to a traumatic encounter with a mysterious space phenomenon.
An intergenerational epic populated by pioneers and chroniclers, enemies and friends, leaders and legends, Here and Beyond is an intricate and imaginative exploration of the arc of human endeavour.
'Hungry Ghosts is an astonishing novel - linguistically gorgeous,
narratively propulsive and psychologically profound' BERNARDINE
EVARISTO' 'Deeply impressive . . . Energy and inventiveness
distinguish every page' HILARY MANTEL 'Beautiful, biblical, vast in
scope and power . . . Hosein is a new enormous giant of fiction'
DAISY JOHNSON 'The biggest, most frightening, beautiful and alive
novel I've read in as long as I can remember' EVIE WYLD The music
was still playing when Dalton Changoor vanished into thin air . . .
On a hill overlooking Bell Village sits the Changoor farm, where
Dalton and Marlee Changoor live in luxury unrecognisable to those
who reside in the farm's shadow. Down below is the barrack, a
ramshackle building of wood and tin, divided into rooms occupied by
whole families. Among these families are the Saroops - Hans,
Shweta, and their son, Krishna, who live hard lives of backbreaking
work, grinding poverty and devotion to faith. When Dalton Changoor
goes missing and Marlee's safety is compromised, farmhand Hans is
lured by the promise of a handsome stipend to move to the farm as
watchman. But as the mystery of Dalton's disappearance unfolds
their lives become hellishly entwined, and the small community
altered forever. Hungry Ghosts is a mesmerising novel about
violence, religion, family and class, rooted in the wild and
pastoral landscape of colonial central Trinidad.
After parting from the man who had once meant a great deal to her,
Adele Corsairs fully intended to spend some time with her writing,
yet the storm of her private life was to be echoed by a ferocious
storm of the elements where she suddenly meets the new man in her
life. Simon Felton however was soon to prove that he was not all
that she had envisaged. A fact that was to prove all the more
disturbing when she discovered that he was the son of her new
employer, which made her new job working to promote a cruise line
all the more difficult. Things seemed to go from bad to worse when
Jason Rennet was found murdered and questions were then asked about
her own relationship with this individual. Neither did a happy
ending seem to be forthcoming when Adele realised that Simon was in
fact expected to marry the daughter of one of their competitors.
Yet Adele's reaction to this was to perpetuate even more disturbing
consequences; leaving one to pose the question as to whether
matters would ever end satisfactorily?
Contribution is the sequel to The Girl from Penthorpe Hill. Poppy
Anderson, Jasmine's adopted granddaughter, is a beautiful and
compassionate young woman, dedicated to educating the world about
our fragile planet. Her energy and passion for living life to the
full, protecting the environment, helping others and striving to be
the best she can, makes Poppy an international celebrity. Poppy,
whose parents are devoted physicians working abroad, was raised by
her wise old grandmother, Jasmine, living in the magnificent
tropical jungles of Costa Rica before going on to further her
education in the United States. After a long life, Jasmine's
spiritual legacy lives on in the lives of Poppy and her best friend
Sam, who plays a pivotal role in Poppy's journey. Contribution
tells of the twists and turns in Poppy's life, learning to grow and
confronting heart-breaking challenges. Recovering from a tragedy in
India, which changes her world for ever, Poppy discovers there are
many kinds of love and joy a person can experience in one lifetime.
Poppy ultimately takes a trip back to Penthorpe Hill and begins to
understand for herself that true love has no end. As with The Girl
from Penthorpe Hill Carol Clayton writes about resilient women with
honesty of emotion, be it sorrow or joy, and of meeting life's
challenges with the main character emerging the stronger for it.
Contribution is an intensely moving story of self-discovery,
learning to live with loss and moving forward to experience life in
all its fullness! A truly enjoyable read!
It's uncanny! Within six months of breaking up with her, Peg
Silver's ex-lovers always meet and marry the women of their dreams.
Even worse than being the eternal bridesmaid, she's the last
girlfriend, the one who awakens in a guy theknowledge of what he's
always wanted in a relationship ... and it's never with Peg.
Obviously, a major lifestyle change is seriously called for, which
is why the distraught interior landscape designer says good-bye to
Manhattan and late-night lattes with pal Nina, and hello to a
farmhouse on ten acres in tiny, backwater Manshire, Vermont, hoping
to meet the ultimate, all-organic country man (without too much
facial hair) to keep her warm in those frosty New England
winters.
Instead, Peg finds herself at Inward Bound -- a proactive
adult-education retreat for the hapless and hopelessly lovelorn --
to try to lift her dreaded "girlfriend curse." A steamy (and
expressly forbidden) dalliance with gorgeous woman-eater Ray
probably isn't going to help cure her. But some romantic insight
could arise from her attraction to Linus, Inward Bound's sexy,
scruffy, smart and still-single founder. Perhaps there is a secret
to be unearthed in the crunchy Green Mountains, one that will
magically transform Peg Silver from the Perpetual Also Ran to the
Big Winner in love.
In the barrio of Fresno, California, the Molina family is living
out the Chicano version of the American Dream. Father William works
on an assembly line while his wife, the well-bred beauty Rachel,
stays at home to care for their three children--and to keep them
off the streets. But when William is offered an opportunity to
enter the ranks of the middle class, he quits his job, packs up the
Ford Maverick, and transports the Molinas to a brand-new world: the
small town of Medford, Oregon. So begins the dramatic
transformation of youngest son and aspiring actor Joey, who assumes
the role of a vato loco gang member in order to win the respect and
fear of his gringo classmates. While Joey tries to make himself
popular with tall tales of guns and glory, his father embarks on a
bitter struggle to develop his career and combat age-old cultural
stereotypes. How William's extraordinary efforts and deepening
despair affect the lives of his loved ones is at the heart of this
haunting and incandescent novel--one destined to become a classic
in Chicano-American literature.
In The Years to Remember we follow the fortunes of one British
family struggling to survive in the early years of the last war. In
spite of the bombing and the threat of invasion Jack and Dolly
Foster took great care of their two children throughout these
dreadful times. We witness the children's early school days and
their formative years until the war ends. The focus then switches
mainly to their son Mike as he leaves school and takes up his first
employment, he then becomes eligible for National Service and
another adventure really begins.
Mr. Freddie was a middle-aged man trapped in an imperfect world,
his only desire to get the most out of life and make money in the
city of London. London, being the most enviable capital of the
world, was to become Mr. Freddie's home for the greater part of his
life. He was a man that had ideas, a cool individual who embarked
on ideas with a kind of innovation. He set up the GBP1m-a-year
bankers' brothel in the shadow economy and operated it for five
years from a beautiful terraced house located in a quiet mews of
Holborn in the heart of the city. All the women working at the
bankers' brothel worked as prostitutes on a part-time basis.
Drivers would drive the city bankers to the brothel from city strip
clubs on the promise of sex and drivers would receive commission.
Payment via credit card was offered at an increased rate by
cardboys. In the United Kingdom, it is very difficult for a person
to operate a brothel without breaking the law. Mr. Freddie was
arrested and the brothel was closed down. He was found guilty by a
jury and sent to prison.
Chris Stewart is haunted by an old secret. Betrayed by her husband
and supported by her daughter, Alice, and best friend, Babs, she
struggles to keep the past at bay. However, when she discovers that
she is pregnant by another man, Chris's life is shattered. In
Letter to an Unborn Child, C.A. Pearson follows Chris's descent
into despair and attempted suicide. the story is a harrowing
account of a journey into that other world which is the human
psyche: Pearson's sensitive account helps us to understand that it
is love that destroys but that, ultimately, it is only love that
can heal.
 |
Melissa
(Paperback)
Michael Gilderdale
|
R322
Discovery Miles 3 220
|
Ships in 10 - 15 working days
|
|
|
It is generally accepted that a single act, even a very ordinary
event can change an individual's life for ever. Certainly, young
Johnny Locksley finds this to be true. For him the catalyst proves
to be none other than the Helianthus annus, the golden Sunflower.
His search to find advice on how to purchase and cultivate the
plant goes awry when he encounters a rival beauty and a temptation
that he is powerless to resist. He finds himself led not into a
garden but into a web of love, loss and a dangerous adventure
played out beneath a Southern sun. .
The year is 1997. Cleo Howard is at a very awkward age, she's sure
she's an adult, so why won't everyone realise this? Why won't her
chest realise this? Why is maths so hard? When will she stop
feeling sad that her dad doesn't live with her and her mum? Music
and men are her twin fascinations and she thanks Almighty Lemmy for
metal and mates. Her diary, which you now hold in your hands, is
home to her deepest thoughts, fondest wishes and often what she had
for tea.
Structure is Character. Characters are what they do. Story events
impact the characters and the characters impact events. Actions and
reactions create revelation and insight, opening the door to a
meaningful emotional experience for the audience. Story is what
elevates a film, a novel, a play, or teleplay, transforming a good
work into a great one. Movie-making in particular is a
collaborative endeavour - requiring great skill and talent by the
entire cast, crew and creative team - but the screenwriter is the
only original artist on a film. Everyone else - the actors,
directors, cameramen, production designers, editors, special
effects wizards and so on - are interpretive artists, trying to
bring alive the world, the events and the characters that the
writer has invented and created. Robert McKee's STORY is a
comprehensive and superbly organized exploration of all elements,
from the basics to advanced concepts. It is a practical course,
presenting new perspectives on the craft of storytelling, not just
for the screenwriter but for the novelist, playwright, journalist
and non-fiction writers of all types.
The first ever story to contain all the words in the dictionary.
Elixir is a fantastical romp through the English language. Follow
the adventures of vertically-challenged Elgin as he abandons his
demeaning job as an elf to search for the elixir of life. But
strange things await him on his quest; for as Elgin is seeking his
destiny in the West Country, a power-hungry Inuit entomologist is
bent on destroying the world's food supply with his army of giant
invertebrates. Unconventional, hilarious, unremittingly
alliterative and at times somewhat disturbing, 'Elixir' is set to
become a cult comedy classic.
 |
Seago
(Paperback)
William Cooper
|
R483
Discovery Miles 4 830
|
Ships in 10 - 15 working days
|
|
|
A stunning tale of a submarine disaster. In 1948, Naval
Intelligence discovered that the Soviets were building a large
submarine fleet, all much faster and deadlier than the German
U-boats. Britain's fleet of escort vessels would be outclassed. The
government ordered two of our existing slow T class submarines to
be adapted to go faster, and then tried out against our existing
frigates. The anti-submarine trials were a disaster, not helped by
the stormy relationship between two people each brilliant in their
field: the young mathematician boffin, Dr Alison Maynard; and her
boyfriend Tom Seago, maverick navigator of one of the sub-chasing
frigates. For a gripping read, full of passion, danger, ingenuity
and moments of cliffhanging fear, look no further.
|
|